Wednesday, 30 December 2015

This year has been a very beautiful year in terms of blogging and writing. Although juggling 2 blogs Love, Laugh and Reflect and Purba's Library becomes a bit tedious at times, I have tried my level best to do so. I made so many wonderful friends this year through blogging and learned a lot. I also attended my first Blogger's meet and won a handful of blogging contests this year. Overall, it's been a very rewarding year.So today when it's just a few hours from stepping into the new year, I thought to pause a bit, rewind back and cherish my favorite 10 posts of Love, Laugh and Reflect. 1. A stranger's love letter! ~ Fiction

A short story that I wrote in February, 2015. I thought a few times to write the second part, but ultimately discarded the idea.Natasha buys a second-hand book "Love Poems by Pablo Neruda" to pass the time in a train journey. As she turns the pages of the book, a letter escapes from between. The letter starts with the words "My Natasha"2. Soulmates and Twinflames ~ Non-Fiction

This is another post that I wrote in February, 2015 and it is one of the most popular and widely read posts of this blog.

I have expressed my own understanding of the term "soul mates" and "twin flames" in this post. According to me, I am a soul with a body. I am a spiritual being having a human existence. Whenever I feel a strong connection with someone, I understand that this person is my soul companion, someone who was with me in another lifetime.

This is one of the most special posts that is very close to my heart. I wrote it in May, 2015.

This post comprises some of the most beautiful memories that I have with my mother...how she taught me music, introduced me to the world of books and had been my cheerleader throughout. I have also included the two special poems that I have written for her.

A short story that I wrote in May, 2015. It also later got published in the September issue of Writer's Ezine.

Rajeev meets a mysterious lady, Meera at the bus stop on one rainy and stormy night. She looks at him intently, as if she knows him for years. As Rajeev goes to buy a cup of tea for her from the nearby shop, she leaves the bus stop, keeping a note that makes Rajeev speechless.

I wrote this travel post in June, 2015. This is an account of my wonderful summer vacation in Kalimpong, a remote hill station of West Bengal this year.

I fulfilled my wish of Paragliding and had a wonderful time in this town. The best thing is that this is the place that I have chosen for the backdrop of my 3rd novel which I have completed writing this year. (Yet to finalize a publisher, though!)

I wrote this post on the death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore this year.

Rabindranath Tagore is not only my favorite author and poet, but he is also someone whose writings and songs have influenced me since childhood. This post is a small tribute to Tagore for being the huge influence in my life.

I wrote this poem in October, 2015 and it got published later in the December Issue of Writer's Ezine. This post is very special to me because many people told me that they got motivated to keep faith in Time after reading the poem.

Thursday, 10 December 2015

Born and brought up in Kolkata, I can never find any
city in India that I can love more than the City of Joy. Every city has its own
set of limitations and Kolkata is no different. However, the warmth, the love
and the festive spirit of this city compensates for many of its
limitations. The best thing about
Kolkata is definitely the enthusiasm for having fun and joy.

Can you imagine a long queue of people standing in
front of a Durga Puja pandal for as long as 2 hours anywhere else? People of
Kolkata never miss an opportunity to enjoy life. They are crazy about adda (gossiping) about football, politics,
literature, music, food and so on. Many people cannot understand the
happy-go-lucky nature of the people in this city and end up calling them lazy.

Let’s look at the City of Joy in respect to 3
interesting key features:

The two bridges that connect Kolkata with Howrah
railway station are the Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge. Both the bridges
connect the city with Howrah over the Ganges. Traffic congestion is quite
common in Kolkata and therefore, a network of flyovers and expressways such as
Belghoria Expressway and Kona Expressway are being created to make the traffic
situation better.

If you drive in Kolkata, you can face a lot of
traffic congestion in the busiest parts of the city. However, there are some
parts of the city which are not so congested such as Salt Lake and Rajarhat
where you can drive smoothly.

Design

The city of joy is spread roughly north to south
along the east bank of the river Hoogly. The oldest part of the city is North
Kolkata, which is characterized by narrow alleyways and 19th century
architecture. North Kolkata includes areas such as ShobhaBazar, ShyamBazar and
Dum Dum.

Central Kolkata contains Esplanade and B.B.D Bagh
(Dalhousie Square) on its east and Strand Road on its west. It is the hub of
business and includes areas such as Park Street, Camac Street and A.J.C Bose
Road.

The lush green, Maidan

The beautiful lush green, large open field called
Maidan is located in the heart of the city. The Kolkata Race Course and the gorgeous
Victoria Memorial are located at the southern part of the Maidan.

South Kolkata developed post independence. It includes
areas like Ballygunge, Jadavpur, Tollygunge, NewAlipore and Behala.

There are two planned
townships, namely Salt Lake City and Rajarhat in the greater Kolkata region. In the 2000s, the Sector V of
the Saltlake City developed into a huge business hub for telecommunication companies
and information technology.

Connect

Kolkata was the very first
city in South Asia to have an underground metro railway. The metro line of the
City of Joy is mostly underground, unlike that of Delhi metro. The metro line begins at Noapara in the North,
passes over Esplanade and ends in New Garia at south. So, the city is well connected by metro, which
makes it easier to travel from north to south or vice versa.

Apart from metro, all regions of Kolkata are
connected by government and private buses which make it convenient to travel to
any part of the city. There is a central bus depot at the Esplanade from where you
can also get long distance buses.

The meter taxi/cabs are also available at all
regions in Kolkata. Apart from that, rickshaws and auto rickshaws help in
covering small distances.

The only airport in the city is Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose International Airport, located at Dumdum which operates both domestic
and international flights. The two major railway stations of Kolkata are
Sealdah Railway Station and Howrah Railway Station.

Patishapta Pitha Every year, during Makar Sankranti/Poush Parbon, I get to eat this amazing dessert. My granny prepares this incredibly delicious dessert on the day of Makar Sankranti. I have lovely childhood memories associated with this dessert.Basically, Patishapta Pitha is a pancake recipe. Here, the pancakes are filled with kheer. It takes near about 45 minutes to prepare this dessert. Instead of using sugar, you can use SugarFree Natura. IngredientsThe ingredients that we will need to prepare Sugar Free Patishapta Pitha are as follows:Suji (Semolina)Maida (White flour)Khowa KheerCooking oilMilkSugarFree Natura

RecipeHere is the recipe of sugar free Patishapta Pitha:First of all, we need to condense the milk properly by boiling and stirring it constantly. Then we have to add Khowa Kheer so that it slowly turns into a semi-liquid state. We also need to add SugarFree Natura in the milk for taste. (Note: You can get Khowa Kheer from the market. However, if it is not available, you can still make this dish, but the milk will take plenty of time to get converted into a semi-liquid state).Now, we need to add 2 cups of water in suji and maida to make a dense mix. Then, we have to add SugarFree Natura in the mix for taste.Now, we should take the frying pan and heat it. Then, we have to coat the surface of the frying pan with a little amount of oil.Carefully, we should pour 4-5 tablespoons of suji-maida mix on the frying pan. Then, spread the mix evenly on the frying pan till it takes a round shape.Now, we should pour one tablespoon of the semi liquid kheer over the round spread.After a few seconds, we should roll the circular spread like bread roll. Now, we need to fry the roll on the frying pan. We should flip the sides of the roll every 10 seconds till it turns slightly reddish brown in color.And, we have our sugar free Bengali Patishapta Pitha ready! For me, winters are incomplete without this dessert. Know more about Sugarfree Natura at http://sugarfree-india.com/

Support My School is a WASH (Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene) initiative launched by Coca-Cola India and NDTV in association with
the UN-Habitat, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in 2011. The motto of this
initiative is to provide a clean and healthy ambiance in several government
schools so that students get a holistic learning environment.

Schools
in the rural and semi-urban areas

There are several government schools, especially in
the rural areas which do not have separate toilets for girls and boys. The
students don’t have access to water and a poor infrastructure. The schools also
do not have clean playgrounds and clean classrooms. Without these basic amenities,
schools can hardly provide a healthy environment for students which is
favorable for learning.

Many girls drop out of schools because there is no
separate toilet for girls. Sanitation issues and poor access to clean drinking
water results in absenteeism. According to several studies, the drop-out rate
is maximum in schools that are located in semi-urban and rural areas because
these schools lack the basic amenities.

Mission
of the Campaign

The future of a country depends on the quality of
education provided to the students. If a large section of students drop-out of
school due to an unhealthy environment, it is a serious matter to worry about.

Support My School is a campaign with a mission to
revitalize 1000 schools in our country. The mission is known as Mission 1000.

The core activities that this campaign undertakes
are as follows:

·Improved access to clean, drinking
water.

·Proper sanitation facility for boys and
girls.

·Sports and recreation facilities.

·Recharging groundwater through rainwater
harvesting.

·Overall improvement in the environment
and the infrastructure of a school.

Conclusion

Such programs are the need of the hour to improve
the education sector of our country. The Support My School initiative by Coca-Cola
India and NDTV is in line with Swacchh Bharat Vision and promises to bring
about a major change in the quality of education in our country. This initiative
has already revitalized many schools in the districts. After getting
revitalized, the schools have reported of higher attendance of students and
increased enrollment.

Thus, we should wholeheartedly support this campaign, to our best abilities.
Let’s hope that this wonderful initiative is able to bring more and more
students to school and provide them with a holistic learning environment.

Education
is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world ~ Nelson
Mandela

Thursday, 3 December 2015

Deciding the career and choosing the appropriate
college to pursue it, is one of the most important and daunting decisions of a
student’s life. There is chaos and confusion all around with parents and
relatives giving constant suggestions. However, you must understand that this
is your life and your career. A slight mistake in making your choice can leave
you with a room full of regrets.

If you are a student, here is some excellent news
for you. Now, you have a guiding star who can guide you in deciding which college
you should take admission in. Collegedunia.com is an extensive search engine
for students and parents who are looking for information about colleges in
India and abroad. This is an ideal platform for students to choose their
institution as it has information of more than 10,000 colleges in India.

Not only that, you can also get information about
the entrance examinations, educational events and college festivals. So you can
completely rely on this website for getting an accurate date on entrance exams,
college and universities. This website has been launched with the vision of
empowering students so that they don’t go wrong with their higher education.

Even if you decide your career path, it is not an
easy decision to choose the course that is ideal for you and the college that
can provide you with the right education. Only when you have knowledge about
the types of courses offered in our country and the colleges excelling in providing
them, you can make the right choice.

For example, if you want to opt for a great medical
career, you will probably think of cracking a medical entrance exam. But are
you aware of the number of medical exams in our country? Well, now you don’t
have to stress much. If you find yourself perplexed about which direction to go,
you should immediately take guidance from CollegeDunia. Here, you can get extensive information about
the list of medical exams in India that will help you to choose your path. You
can prepare yourself accordingly, without any stress.

Similarly, there are plenty of medical courses after12th, many of which you might not know. In order to excel in your medical
career, you must be well acquainted with all the medical courses that are
offered in our country. Only when you have complete knowledge about all the courses,
you can decide which course you should apply for. You can get detailed
information about the popular medical courses in India in this website.

The same thing applies for every career, be it
engineering or management. So if you are confused about which career to pursue
or which college to take admission in, visit CollegeDunia right away. This site
is a guiding star for ambitious students whose eyes are shimmering with dreams
of a great future.

Monday, 30 November 2015

Whenever I go to my cousin’s house, time just flies
away with my little niece. Babies are beautiful angels and mood healers. Even
if your mood is bitter by any turn of event, spending a few minutes with a baby
can be therapeutic. You get instantly wrapped in an ambiance of love, joy and
warmth.

The little angels who fill our lives with such pure
and divine love need adequate care. The skin of babies is so delicate that they
are extremely susceptible to rashes and infection. Therefore, we need to follow some simple ways to
keep babies’ skin soft and safe. Here are 5 ways by which you can keep the skin of your baby soft and safe:

Protect
your angel from the sun: The skin of your angel is very soft
and delicate. Therefore, you should protect your angel from the harsh sun. You
should always use an umbrella when you are taking your angel out in the sun. You
can also use a sunscreen lotion for babies on the back of your baby’s hands and
on the face, if you cannot keep your baby in the shade. Dress your angel in a hat, sunglasses and long-sleeved clothing when you are taking her out in the
sun.

Give
a post-bath massage to your angel: Massages are a great way
to keep the skin of your angel soft. So give a massage to your baby after bath.
As the skin of your baby stays hydrated after bath, an oil massage will be
perfect.

Choose
products that have baby friendly ingredients: When
you are buying oil, soap, shampoo, etc. for your baby, do not forget to check
the ingredients of the products. Avoid products with harsh chemicals such as
lanolin and talc as they can irritate the skin of your angel. Choose a gentle
detergent for washing the clothes of your baby.

Protect
your baby from diaper rash: You need to protect
your little angel from the irritation of diaper rash. Change the diapers of
your baby every two hours in order to minimize diaper rash. You should choose
Pampers Premium Care Pants for your baby as they will be the softest for the
skin of your baby.

Choose
cotton for your baby: Cotton is definitely the best
fabric for your angel. It is both soft and comfortable. Your angel will feel comfortable
all day in cotton clothes. It will also prevent the skin of your angel from
rashes and infection.

If you follow these 5
simple tips, then you can surely keep the skin of your baby soft and safe.
Create a soft, beautiful and secure ambiance for your angel where there are
countless smiles and happiness.

Thursday, 26 November 2015

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

What makes us human is our compassionate and giving nature. We feel sad when we see someone in pain. We want to help when we see someone in need. We feel happy when we can make someone smile. We feel melancholic when we listen to tragic news on television. These emotions are the essence of our lives. Without these emotions, we would be labelled as robots. Whenever I see a child begging in the street or selling balloons or crying out of hunger, something pricks my heart so badly. I keep pondering about the intensity of pain that these children are subjected to. I am sure most of us feel the same way. Unfortunately, hunger and malnutrition are serious issues that our country is facing. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is like a bright ray of hope for the needy children. The organization is extremely dedicated and is constantly fighting to end child hunger. They have the world's largest (NGO run) mid-day meal programme, feeding over 1.4 million school children from 10,845 schools across 10 states in India every single day. I feel really proud and happy about the quality of work that this organization is doing for the underprivileged children.Recently, the Akshaya Patra Foundation won the 14th Mother Teresa Award in the Best NGO Category, 2014. The wonderful singer and composer, Shankar Mahadevan is the brand ambassador of the organization.

We all know that little drops of water make the mighty ocean. We are like the little drops of water and our contribution in a child's life would result in a better world. When I learnt about this foundation, I wanted to blog about it instantly to spread awareness so that kind and compassionate individuals can support the cause.If we can contribute in our own simple ways for these innocent children, then the Akshaya Patra Foundation will be powerful enough to eradicate child hunger from our country totally. How beautiful our country will be then, with not a single child starving in the day!This is a small chance to make a big difference in an innocent child's life. Let's support the Akshaya Patra Foundation in ending child hunger. Let's unleash our kind and compassionate side. Our one act of kindness can paint plenty of smiles on an innocent child's face.You can make your contribution at https://www.akshayapatra.org/onlinedonations

Sunday, 22 November 2015

Everyone has a different definition about a great
man. For some, a great man might be a person who is extremely famous. For some,
a great man might be a person who is exceptionally rich and powerful. For some people
like me, a great man is a person with an extraordinary character.

This post is dedicated to the person whose values,
ideals, personality and character has influenced my life and made me the person
I am today. He is my Dad, my Mom, my role model, my best friend, my cheerleader, my philosopher
and my guide.

I understood his greatness for the first time when I
was twelve years old. The love of his life, my mother passed away due to
multiple organ failure. It broke him to bits. But he did not let
his deep anguish reflect on his face as it would have tormented me. He was determined to fulfill the last
promise he made to my mother, that is to give me the best life possible and to
raise me up to be a strong, well read and independent woman.

Therefore, instead of detaching himself from
everything and drowning in grief, my Dad became my Mom that day. From cooking
my meals to giving me company to making me ready for school, he did it all.

He
is made of great love

He
is made of great sacrifices

It’s
because of his greatness

I
can feel my Mom’s presence within him

Every
single day!

Although my Dad made my life easier, his life was
clouded with several adversities and hardships after Mom passed away. Managing
work and bringing up an adamant teenager was not an easy thing together. He
couldn’t sleep properly at night for the next 3-4 years.I used to study for my
board exams at night and he used to give me company. Again, at the crack of
dawn, he had to wake up for making my breakfast and then heading for his work.
But he did not lose patience even in those trying times.The smile on his face never faded even for a day. His optimistic outlook
towards life made him see the silver lining behind the grey clouds. With a
smile on his face, he fought with all his adversities without any complaints.

He
is made of great resilience

He
is made of great tenacity

It’s
because of his greatness

I
have learnt to face adversities

With
a calm mind and a brave heart!

During my high school days, I became a very quiet
and friendless person. I had to get admitted in a new school and as a result, I
lost all my old friends. There was a chasm in me, which my Dad rightly realized.
From that day onward, I got a new friend in my Dad. With every year, our
friendship has strengthened. I can chat with him about anything and everything.
The best thing about this friend is that he is such a patient listener. He is
always my companion in playing outdoor games, in trying adventure sports, in
painting, in taking selfies, in singing and dancing etc. Recently, when I tried paragliding, it
was my Dad who encouraged me to fly and was cheering me up all the while.

He
is made of great amiableness

He
is made of great cheer

It’s
because of his greatness

I
have never felt

The
absence of a sibling or friend ever!

When I was doing my marketing internship, I used to
stay very annoyed all the time. My Dad could clearly understand that I was not
enjoying the work I was doing. He told me to listen to my heart’s calling. “Do
what you Love. Love what you do” is the motto he tells me to live by. At first,
I couldn’t clearly understand what the calling of my heart is. But gradually,
when I started listening to my heart more carefully, I could hear its words.
It’s because of Dad’s constant motivation that I dared to follow my passion for writing in various ways.

He
is made of great values

He
is made of great philosophies

It’s
because of his greatness

I
could find the purpose

Of
my Living!

My maternal grandmother lives with us. My Dad takes
care of her the way my Mom would have taken care of her, had she been alive. My
grandmother was suffering from breast cancer and my Dad made every possible
effort to cure her from the life threatening disease. His efforts, prayers and
love could cure her totally. My grandmother is totally cured of cancer today and
lives a wonderful life now. I really forget sometimes that my grandmother is my
Dad’s mother-in-law. They are totally Mother and Son.

He
is made of a great heart

He
is made of great willpower

It’s
because of his greatness

I
believe in the power of

Love,
Miracle and Prayers!

Throughout the stretch of years, I have seen my Dad
dealing with several ups and downs in his life. But his positive attitude is always there in whatever situation he is in. I have never seen him losing
patience ever. He is the most patient and forgiving person I have ever come
across. Humming a song of Kishore Kumar and carrying a serene smile on his
face, he exudes positive vibes always.

In my eyes, he is the most successful person ever. The
way he has brought me up, taken care of my maternal grandmother, worked hard to
be a self-made successful man and the way he loves life make me say that he is made of a great soul, a great heart and a great mind.

It will surely enthrall you to the core. Go through it and participate in this exciting contest:

Answer this simple question in the comment section and the person whose answer would be the best, according to me will win an Amazon Voucher worth Rs. 750. The winner will be announced on 26th November here. Stay tuned!

What do you think of Tata Motors' Association with Lionel Messi?

Update 26th November, 2015: Thank you so much everyone for your participation in the contest. The winner is Gaurab Mukherjee.

About Me

An author, blogger and content developer from Kolkata.
Literature is my safe haven.
Deeply Inclined towards spirituality.
Yoga and meditation keep me balanced.
Apart from reading and writing, I enjoy music and traveling.
A wanderer, explorer and seeker on this beautiful earth.